Vagrant Records have a busy year ahead of them. With The Anniversary and The New Amsterdams having already released records in recent months and The Get Up Kids new CD on the way it would have been easy to overlook the new album by Hot Rod Circuit. But you’d be a fool to do so…
Clocking in at eleven tracks, ‘Sorry About Tomorrow’ is a good, solid little record. It’s not one of those knock you out, album-of-the-year style records, but HRC keep things simple and they do it well. There isn’t a single bad track here, yet at the same time there is only the odd moment of sheer standout brilliance. The first of which is opener ‘The Pharmacist’, a singalong blast destined to be on an alternative radio station near you soon. With a big chunky chorus and the odd emo leaning thrown in for good measure, it’s a good starting point. “You let me down for the last time,” they sing, and this little tale of a failed friendship and apparent drug addiction is one of the true highlights here.
‘At Nature’s Mercy’ is more disjointed than its predecessor and not as catchy or anthemic on first listen. But it is a grower and after a few plays you’ll be nodding away in acknowledgement. ‘Radiation Suit’ has more of a rock feel to it and is another great song, complete with a huge sounding guitar riff and smoky vocals. And the chorus has a hook with which you could catch a Great White Shark. The mean and moody ‘Safely’ follows up next, and is a good song without being brilliant It takes a while to get going, but once it does you won’t be disappointed.
‘Now Or Never’ has a real dirty rock and roll feel to it, differing to the poppier earlier tracks. Again the huge chorus shows that the band are no fools at writing melodic ditties. ‘Cool For One Night’ carries on the trend of solid songs. Another grower, it might not be the most obvious track on first listen, but stick around and give it a chance. It’s worth the wait. ‘Knees’ sounds a bit like The Get Up Kids, just not quite as good. Still, ‘Knees’ is a good track, another that needs a few listens to really appreciate it. ‘Let’s Go Home’ is a great three-minute pop song and another highlight. Again there’s melody in abundance and it doesn’t outstay its welcome whatsoever, thriving in its positivity with a great guitar riff and some inventive fills.
‘Consumed By Laziness’ plods along a bit, seemingly constrained and you sense the song would be far better if the band rocked out at some stage. It’s not bad by any means, just a little frustrating. ‘Get What You Get’ is much more upbeat and HRC at their anthemic best. There’s a little urgency, a little desperation and when you mix this with some great guitar handywork and some top-notch lyrics, you’re in for a treat. ‘Sorry About Tomorrow’ ends with slowie ‘The Night They Blew Up The Moon’, which really does borrow heavily from their labelmates and peers in The New Amsterdams. Again, it’s not a bad track by any means, but it’s hardly the most orginal, or emotional, track that you will hear this year.
Hot Rod Circuit have produced a good record which is well worth a listen. But don’t expect anything too fancy, original or dangerous because you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re looking for carefully crafted songsmithery by the shedload, I think you might have come to the right place.
Paul Savage